In a surprising announcement, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled plans to revise or postpone critical components of his government’s climate strategy. Sunak’s “new approach” entails a five-year delay in implementing the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, a relaxation of the 2035 phase-out of gas boiler sales, and a decision not to impose mandatory insulation standards for rental properties owned by landlords. These policy reversals have faced widespread criticism from numerous companies, climate advocates, and politicians representing various ideological backgrounds.
While the government professes its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the promotion of renewable energy initiatives as part of its global warming mitigation policies, questions arise regarding the tangible actions taken to fulfil these aspirations.
What is Climate Change?
The United Nations defines climate change as the “long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns.” Extensive research indicates that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, have contributed significantly to climate change since the 1800s. Over this period, global temperatures have risen by more than one degree Celsius.
Climate change has far-reaching consequences, impacting various aspects, including:
- Life expectancy
- Government spending priorities
- Economic growth and other macroeconomic variables
Following the Climate Change Act 2008, the government must formulate a national adaptation program every five years. This program outlines strategies for safeguarding communities in the UK from anticipated challenges, such as extreme heat, flooding, and coastal erosion resulting from climate breakdown. Nevertheless, critics, including the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government, assert that the current efforts fall short of what is required. In a case believed to be the first of its kind, Jordan is taking legal action against the government, alleging that its failure to establish lawful “adaptation objectives” in its latest plan constitutes a violation of its human rights.
UK Companies and Climate Change
According to Aviva’s annual Climate-Ready Index, UK companies developing plans to tackle climate change have increased significantly in the past year. Almost half (44%) of UK companies now have a structured plan in place to reduce their carbon footprint and climate impact, up from 34% one year ago, reflecting increasing concern among businesses about the effects of climate change. Two-thirds of UK businesses are now concerned about the climate (compared to 54% a year ago) and believe that organisations should reduce their carbon footprint.
UK businesses are responding to increasing pressure from customers and other businesses to address climate change. Nearly half (45%) of businesses now feel consumer pressure to act on climate, up from 30% only a year ago, and 39% feel pressure from other firms to put climate plans in place, up from 27% in 2022. The most popular action businesses are taking, according to Aviva, are energy-saving measures (48%), such as turning off lights, increased use of renewable energy such as solar power and ground source heat pumps, and more remarkable waste recycling (54%).
More substantial taxes on UK polluters could have brought more than $28 billion last year to address climate change.
In its most recent publication, Oxfam has outlined strategies to ensure that the “largest and wealthiest contributors to pollution” bear the financial burden, sparing UK households from added costs. By proposing and identifying various mechanisms to generate funding for groundbreaking climate solutions in the UK, the study posited that as much as £23 billion (equivalent to approximately $28.5 billion) could have been generated in 2022 had equitable taxes been imposed on the “most substantial polluters” in the country.
The report underlines that limiting climate change to within the 1.5°C threshold remains feasible but necessitates a substantial leap in climate action, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised. Furthermore, the report warns that low and middle-income nations will require nearly $19 trillion between 2023 and 2030 to address the challenges of climate change. Despite possessing the resources to lead efforts in advancing climate action across the dimensions of mitigation, adaptation, and the management of loss and damage, the UK government must fulfil its responsibilities. Oxfam has criticised the government for veering “off course” from meeting its net-zero emissions target by 2050, emphasising that public and private investments fall far short of what is necessary to guide the country toward achieving this objective.
Sunak’s plan
Sunak has officially confirmed the extension of the ban on selling new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, including petrol and diesel cars and vans, from 2030 to 2035. In addition, he has also delayed the ban on selling oil, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), and new coal heating for homes without access to natural gas until 2035. Furthermore, he has announced cancelling planned regulations regarding rental properties’ minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES).
Despite the Prime Minister’s rejection of claims of diluting climate policies, these actions are expected to divert the UK further from its legally binding emissions targets. As the Conservative government led by Sunak lags in pre-election polls, these policy rollbacks are being presented as a candid approach to achieving net-zero emissions by eliminating what is described as “unbearable costs” for hardworking British citizens. Sunak has characterised those advocating for more robust climate policies as driven by “ideological fervour,” emphasising their willingness to do more “regardless of the cost or disruption to people’s lives.” Nonetheless, the government’s climate advisers have consistently warned that the UK is falling short of meeting its legally mandated climate objectives, even in areas where it has historically excelled, such as offshore wind turbine construction.
Meanwhile, the EU and the US have substantially invested in low-carbon technologies to stimulate their economies, address the global energy crisis, and compete with nations like China.
June 2023 was confirmed as the hottest June in the UK since records began in 1884.
July saw the world’s hottest day with heatwaves across many parts of Europe, China, and the US. Only 4% of adults thought the UK was “well prepared” for hotter summers. Approximately 64% of adults in Great Britain said they were somewhat or very worried about the impact of climate change, with variation by region, sex and socio-economic status.
Adults living in the least deprived areas of England were more likely to report having made some changes to their lifestyle to tackle climate change (70%) than those in the most deprived areas (55%). Total energy use by households in the UK, on a residence basis, has fallen 9% since 1990, having initially risen into the early 2000s.
What do people think about it?
The latest estimates from our Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) from 14 June to 9 July 2023 show that around two-thirds (64%) of adults in Great Britain said that in the past 12 months, they had been worried (very or somewhat) about the impact of climate change (the same as in the previous period 5 April to 1 May 2023).
Groups of the population more likely to report having been worried about climate change include:
- those living in the least deprived areas of England (72%) compared with those living in the most deprived areas (50%)
- those living in the East of England (70%) compared with those living in the North East (53%)
women (68%) compared with men (60%).
